http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents FHSU Current Events FHSU en-us http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4039Working together to inform the public about AIDS, the Office of Diversity Affairs, the Gay-Straight Alliance and the Student Health Center of Fort Hays State University are planning a series of events for World AIDS Day beginning Tuesday, Dec. 1. A World AIDS Day display, a public forum, a display featuring 12 of the 40 thousand panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, free HIV testing and an art exhibit and silent auction are all part of the commemoration to World AIDS Day at FHSU in the Memorial Union. The World's AIDS Day display will be presented on the main level of the union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Workers will hand out information booklets as well as awareness stickers and other paraphernalia. The AIDS Memorial Quilt, consisting of panels weighing anywhere from 10 to 20 pounds and measuring 12 square feet, serves as a tribute to those who have suffered from HIV or AIDS. Sponsored by the NAMES Project Foundation, the quilt was founded in 1987 as a way to, provide a creative means for remembrance and healing, effectively illustrate the enormity of the AIDS epidemic, increase the general public's awareness of HIV and AIDS, assist others with HIV infection-prevention education, and raise funds for community-based AIDS service organizations. Over 14 million people have visited the quilt at various locations worldwide, and the NAMES Foundation has raised over $3 million for AIDS service organizations in North America. From on Dec. 1 to 3, FHSU students, faculty and staff, as well as the Hays community, will have their chance to view the famous quilt which has been featured in books, films and even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The quilt will be on display from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Fort Hays Ballroom and the Black and Gold Room of the union. Admission is free. "The quilt is really a community art project," said Michael Miller, Chanute junior and president of the Gay-Straight Alliance. "One panel will be specially made from the people in the Hays community who have had AIDS touch their lives." Any volunteers wishing to assist with the AIDS Quilt can e-mail fhsugsa@gmail.com. The volunteer work will count for Tigers in Service credit. On Dec. 1-2, the health center will conduct free and confidential HIV testing. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS by slowly attacking the immune system. Often times, people with the HIV virus can show little to no symptoms but are still highly infectious. The tests will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the health center in the lower level of the union. "We want people to know HIV is not a gay disease," said George Jackson III, coordinator of diversity affairs. "Anybody can be HIV positive." FHSU students and faculty members have been asked to donate art pieces to be sold at the silent art auction outside the ballroom. The auction will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. on Dec. 1-2. All proceeds will go to the AIDS Research Alliance. According to their Web site, the ARA is an organization that exists to develop a cure for HIV/AIDS, medical strategies to prevent new infections and better treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS. Anyone donating art pieces must have their work turned into the Center for Student Involvement by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25. After raising $200 last year, the group has set a goal of $500 for this year's event. A public forum will be on Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Cody Commons in the lower level of the union. The forum will be hosted by Jackson, as well as a representative from the health department. "I would also really love to get a pastor, or someone to provide a Christian aspect as well," said Jackson. The representatives from the different areas will be present to answer any questions students may have concerning HIV or AIDS. The Gay-Straight Alliance has asked Nina Martinez to speak on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Martinez contracted HIV as a six-week-old infant after a faulty blood transfusion. Martinez will speak from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Black and Gold Room. Finishing the events on Thursday, Dec. 3, will be the showing of the documentary "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt." The film tells about the first decade of the AIDS epidemic, and features the AIDS Quilt as its "central metaphor." "Common Threads" relives personal memories and conducts an expose of the U.S. Government's reaction to the epidemic and the resulting protests. The film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1989. The film will be shown on at 7:30 p.m. in the Black and Gold Room. "We really hope to raise awareness that AIDS is an epidemic everywhere," said Miller. "It doesn't matter what race, gender or sexual preference you are." Miller will conduct the closing ceremony after the film to conclude the events. For additional information about the commemoration, contact Jackson at (785) 628-4664.Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4039http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4040The public is invited to join Fort Hays State University at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony that provides holiday festivities for people of all ages. Sponsored by the Greek community and Wendy's restaurant of Hays, the event takes place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2 in front of Sheridan Hall on the FHSU campus. Special features of the event include a holiday welcome by President Edward H. Hammond, music by the FHSU Choir, announcement of the annual coloring contest winners and hayrack rides. Santa Claus and Victor E. Tiger will make special appearances to kick off the holiday season. Following the ceremony, hot chocolate and cookies, compliments of Wendy's, will be provided in the Dreiling Lobby of Sheridan Hall. For more information, contact Chandra Daffer, director of the Center for Student Involvement, at (785) 628-4884.Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4040http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4041Two Fort Hays State University communication studies students accompanied Jennie Straight, assistant professor of communication studies, to Wichita on Friday, Nov. 6, to attend the Public Relations Society of America's student day. "It is essential for PR students to see what practitioners are doing and how it really does relate to what we do in the classroom," Straight said. Kendra Callihan, Abilene senior, and Kindra Degenhardt, Hays senior, jumped at the opportunity to attend the conference in the CityArts building in Wichita's historic Old Town. They listened to informational and entertaining presentations from Wichita-area media representatives and also had the opportunity to meet with area PR professionals and participate in mock interviews. The afternoon was dedicated to Sullivan Higdon and Sink, a major Public Relations firm introducing their new logo and campaign for the Greater Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau. Finally, Todd Ramsey from the Greteman Group conducted a presentation outlining "The Value of Social Media," and what Facebook and Twitter can do for PR professionals in the workplace. Student day hosted almost 40 students and faculty from surrounding universities. PRSA plans to host a student day again next year. For more information on the Public Relations Society of America, log on to www.prsa.org.Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4041http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4042It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Fort Hays State University and around Hays. Pine trees begin to spring up, twinkling lights decorate roofs and store windows, holiday hymns softly serenade shoppers, and families begin preparing for their holiday traditions. In keeping with their tradition, the Hays Symphony Guild and the FHSU Department of Music will present their annual benefit concert, "Holiday Pops." Music will be performed by the Hays Symphony Orchestra; Dr. Joe Perniciaro, assistant professor of music; the Barbershop singers; the Fort Hays Singers; and Bradley J. Dawson, assistant professor of music. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the FHSU campus. Admission will be $10 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and students, and free for children under the age of 12. Tickets are available at the FHSU Memorial Union Student Service Center, Midwest Music, Hays Wal-Mart, the FHSU Department of Music, or any Hays Symphony Guild Board Member. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show.Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4042http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4043Two Fort Hays State University professors of communication studies recently presented case studies to national organizations. Dr. Carrol Haggard, associate professor, and Dr. Margaret Miller Butcher, assistant professor, attended the November 2009 National Communication Association convention in Chicago, Ill., where they presented their paper "Ethnocentrism and Intercultural Willingness to Communicate: A Cross-cultural Comparison Between Chinese and U.S. College Students." Dawne Leiker, a 2009 master of liberal studies FHSU graduate, who also works in FHSU's Center for Civic Leadership, also presented her paper, "Kansas Newspapers in the 21st Century: Adaptation to Innovation." Haggard and co-author Dr. Patricia LaPoint, McMurry University, Abilene, Texas, presented their study, "MacPherson Manufacturing Company: Strategic Operations Planning," at the October 2009 Allied Academies International Convention in Las Vegas. The case examines the need for a company to downsize its product lines. LaPoint and Haggard also collaborated on another case, "Workplace Violence Hits Home: Are you Ready?," published in the September 2009 issue of The Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies. This study received the Distinguished Research Award at the April 2008 Allied Academies Convention. "The purpose of this case study is to get students to look at issues for developing a workplace violence policy in an organization," Haggard said. For more information regarding Haggard's case studies or research, email him at chaggard@fhsu.edu.Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4043http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4038Getting started in bird watching may seem a daunting task, but a new program at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center makes it easy. Birding 101, offered at 2 p.m. on Nov. 22, will provide beginning bird watchers with information on equipment, guides and identification. Long-time bird watcher and Hays resident Terry Mannell will provide information on binoculars, spotting scopes and bird guides during the first half of the program. Mannell served as interim director of the Wetlands Center and has enjoyed birding for several years. Those interested in getting started in this new and exciting hobby don't have to spend a lot of money; Mannell will provide information on inexpensive equipment just in time for the holiday season. Ellinwood resident Rob Penner will present information on bird identification for beginners during the second half of the program. Penner, who is the avian programs manager for The Nature Conservancy, has been a bird watcher since the age of 14. He will provide tips he has learned in more than 30 years of birding. The program is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration deadline is Nov. 20. For more information or to register, contact the Wetlands Center at (620)785-7456.Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4038http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4037Natural history museums have their roots in the renaissance period, but they were not what they are today. Closer to cabinets of wonder than actual museums, they held objects mysterious, grotesque and intriguing. Dr. Kim Perez, assistant professor of history at Fort Hays State University, attempts to enlighten the public on the contents of these mysterious collections with her presentation, "Wunderkammer and Cabinets of Curiosity: Natural History Museums in the Renaissance," at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Engel classroom at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Renaissance natural history museums were typically not research minded. Instead, the rich nobility used them to demonstrate their power and ability to retrieve foreign artifacts from far-away exotic locations. These seventeenth-century cabinets were filled with preserved animals, horns, tusks, skeletons and minerals, as well as other types of equally fascinating man-made objects such as clockwork machines or sculptures wondrously old, fine or small. The presentation is one of many in a special series of events over the last eight months in celebration of Sternberg’s 10th anniversary. The presentation is free and open to the public.Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4037http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4031This year’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibit at Fort Hays State University will have an eco-friendly feel to it. That’s because 10 canvas panels depicting the Smoky Hill and Big Creek watersheds will enhance the public’s understanding of watershed pollution. The exhibit’s opening reception is from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art in Rarick Hall, room 102. The panels will eventually hang in the Watershed on Wheels, a car trailer specially fitted to transport and showcase the artwork. Kansas State Research and Extension watershed specialist Stacie Minson envisioned a mobile display that could travel across the state, educating the public on the causes of water pollution. The Watershed on Wheels (WOW) is the first ever watershed project of its size. Minson enlisted help from Dr. Bob Stephenson, associate professor of agriculture at FHSU. Stephenson, in turn, invited other departments to share in Minson's vision. Four departments -- Agriculture, Technology Studies, Art and Design, and Communication Studies -- have been working since fall 2008 to make Minson's vision a reality. Amy Schmierbach, associate professor of art and design at FHSU, asked drawing major Chris Thummel, Hoxie senior, to illustrate the panels using his narrative comic book style. Thummel said that throughout his life and during his studies at FHSU, he developed an interest in the way mankind affects the environment. “We need to protect our water supply because it is a basic necessity. The seemingly insignificant everyday choices we make can cause unforeseen problems down the road,” Thummel said. Thummel spent about half his time researching and the other half sketching. With water pollution expertise provided by the Kansas State University Research and Extension Center, he worked to create a realistic view of pollution sources along Big Creek and the Smoky Hill River. The creek and river eventually flow into Kanopolis Reservoir. Those problems are the focus of the WOW project. Thummel drew all the pictures, following the guidelines provided by K-State Research and Extension, picked the colors and made last minute alterations to the drawing. He also helped paint the panels along with more than 75 other individuals. Conservation and the environment aren’t foreign to Thummel, who grew up on a farm. His interest in art began at age 5 while sitting in his father’s lap watching him draw. Mad Magazine, comic books and the large murals painted during the 1930s inspired him to pursue a career in art and influenced his style. Thummel’s work has been showcased at several exhibits: the FHSU Student Art Show 2008; The End Art Show/Student Group Exhibition; and the Drawing Students Group Exhibition. He was the scholarship award winner in the 2008 Student Art Show and received an FHSU mini-grant award in 2009. His wife is a photographer who assisted him with the final panels. Thummel plans to both teach art and exhibit his own work. The panels will be on display from Nov. 13 through Nov. 30. Minson can be contacted at (785) 650-1282. Schmierbach can be contacted at (785) 628-4245.Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4031http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4032Dr. Chris Crawford, professor of leadership studies and assistant provost for quality management at Fort Hays State University, was recently awarded the Jonathan Bacon Outstanding Leadership Award for the 10th annual Summer Institute of Distance Learning and Instructional Technology. "I feel honored to be presented with SIDLIT's Jonathan Bacon Award," said Crawford. "The SIDLIT movement embodies many of the values that FHSU holds, including excellence, quality and continuous improvement in distance learning. The award is less about any modest effort I may have achieved and much more about the strength of the university in the area of distance learning." Crawford was recognized for his work in FHSU's leadership programs; the Master of Liberal Studies program and FHSU's China initiatives; his service as the interim dean of the university's College of Business and Leadership; and for promoting distance education. SIDLIT, aimed at providing faculty and staff involved in instructional technology an opportunity to share expertise, is a program of Colleague to Colleague (C2C) and Johnson County Community College. C2C is a professional association of faculty, staff and administrators from Kansas and Missouri. The organization's goal is to "share technology expertise, resources and training with a special emphasis on distance education and instructional technology in Kansas and Missouri."Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4032http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4033Tigers in Service and the American Democracy Project at Fort Hays State University are hosting a Veterans Day celebration at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Memorial Rose Garden behind Picken Hall on the FHSU campus. "We want to commemorate veterans and other military personnel who have served or are serving our country," said Amanda Herrmann, Maize sophomore and organizer of the event. The organizers are including disabled veterans, a trumpeter playing "Taps," area Boy Scouts and patriotic singers. A wreath will be placed near the Memorial Rose Garden and dedicated to current and former service members.Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4033http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4034Linda Sutton, business consultant for the North Central Kansas Small Business Development Center, has been selected as the 2009 State Star of the Kansas Small Business Development Center and as the Star Performer by the Association of Small Business Development Centers, according to Wally Kearns, KSBDC state director. Sutton covers 11 counties in north central Kansas. "I am pleased that Linda's peers are recognizing her as their State Star," said Kearns. "Linda is an outstanding person. She has great ethics, skills and a very positive attitude. She demonstrates an astonishing breadth and depth of skills and experience. Linda offers a sharp perspective and solid advice to all of her clients, and her clients clearly love her. Her work is consistently exceptional in every respect; she represents the KSBDC with distinction." The State Star award recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in work performance, initiative and creativity that results in improved operating efficiency, exceptional assistance to clients and an effort to enhance the image of the KSBDC Network through community relations and programs that bring distinction to the network. Nominated by her peers, Sutton joined the KSBDC Network in 2003 as the consultant for the newly created KSBDC outreach center at Cloud County Community College. In 2009, she was instrumental in finding new funding to keep the outreach center in north central Kansas. It was renamed NCK SBDC and relocated to a new office in downtown Concordia. Sutton's diverse background includes owning her own consulting and accounting business, serving as controller of several large businesses, and posessing extensive international experience as a financial analyst in Europe and Asia-Pacific. "It is an honor to be selected for this award by my peers. The past six years with the KSBDC have gone by very quickly," said Sutton. "Returning to my hometown and helping small business in north central Kansas has been very rewarding. I grew up in a small community, and my parents owned their own business. I have seen firsthand the challenges and rewards that they faced, so I'm glad I can assist rural small businesses." Sutton has been active in numerous economic development organizations in north central Kansas, including serving as the president of the North Central Kansas Rural Development Council and as a member of the CCCC Business and Computer Science Advisory Board, Concordia Area Chamber of Commerce, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, Project Open, and NCK SCORE. In addition, Sutton founded Women Entrepreneurs in Business located in north central Kansas. "The Women Entrepreneurs in Business group is great way for women business owners to network with each other," Sutton said. In 2007, Sutton was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration Region VII Women in Business Champion of the Year. In addition to her position with the KSBDC, Sutton is a member of the adjunct faculty at Friends University in Wichita and has her teaching certification. Sutton received her master's degree in finance from the University of Denver. She also earned her bachelor's degree in finance and computer science from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Sutton is a licensed pilot and is active in the International Organization of Women Pilots and the Nebraska Chapter of The Ninety Nines. In addition to flying, Sutton enjoys spending time with family and friends. Sutton received the Star Performer Award for Kansas by the ASBDC during a reception on Sept. 17, 2009, in Orlando, Fla., in conjunction with ASBDC's 29th Annual Conference. Corporate Turnaround, which is an "Alliance Partner" of the ASBDC, sponsored the reception. About KSBDC The Kansas Small Business Development Center Network is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce. KSBDC is nationally accredited through the Association of Small Business Development Centers. KSBDC receives funding from and partners with higher education and economic development organizations to provide Kansas entrepreneurs with no-cost business consulting and resources for starting, maintaining and growing their businesses. The statewide host for the KSBDC is Fort Hays State University. For more information about the KSBDC Network, visit the Web site at www.kansas.gov/ksbdc or call (877) 625-7232 About ASBDC: America's Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) Network is a partnership uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations. It is the Small Business Administration's largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. With about 1,000 centers across the nation, America's SBDC network provided business consulting to approximately 200,000 clients, training for more than 400,000 attendees and other forms of management and technical assistance to approximately 600,000 small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs last year.Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4034http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4035A public reception on Friday, Nov. 6, for artists and craftsmen will kick off the final weekend of two exhibits currently at Fort Hays State University's Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art. The reception is from 7-9 p.m. at the gallery, in Rarick Hall, room 102, on the FHSU campus. The two exhibits, "KACA Members Exhibit" and "Material Mastery: The Discipline of Skill," went up Oct. 16 in preparation for the Kansas Artist Craftsman Association conference which begins Friday and continues through Saturday. About 80 artists and craftsmen have registered. The exhibits close Saturday, Nov. 7. The exhibition and conference are a "celebration of hands-on learning and creativity," said Linda Ganstrom, FHSU professor of art and design and conference coordinator. Attendees at the conference can attend workshops and lectures and see more than 75 pieces of art created from craft materials. For more information, log on to kacaonline.com.Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4035http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4036Protecting people and preventing damage to libraries or cultural collections are extremely important tasks for libraries, museums and archives. To help local administrators plan for disasters, a regional "Before Disaster Strikes" workshop was presented in Colby on Oct. 29. Patty Nicholas, special collections librarian at Fort Hays State University's Forsyth Library, joined nearly 100 participants to learn the basics of creating and implementing a disaster preparedness plan. The workshop encouraged attendance from all cultural organizations regardless of where they might be in the planning process. There was a great deal of idea sharing for protecting statewide collections and the development of regional partnerships. Disaster preparedness expert Tyra Grant, from the University of Kansas, presented a step-by-step plan at the all-day workshop to prevent emergencies from becoming disasters for cultural heritage collections. The workshop was underwritten by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and coordinated by the State Library of Kansas. The workshop is part of a broader IMLS national initiative "Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action" to raise awareness and preserve shared cultural heritage collections. In addition to the State Library, sponsors include the Kansas State Historical Society, the Kansas Library Association, the Kansas Humanities Council, the Kansas Arts Commission, the Kansas Museums Association, the University of Kansas Libraries, the Kansas State University Libraries and the Kansas City Area Archivists. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4036http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4030Demonstrating its commitment to find innovative solutions for unmet needs, Fort Hays State University has published the first edition of a scholarly journal that will focus on a previously ignored segment of higher education. "Teacher-Scholar: The Journal of the State Comprehensive University" becomes the only fully peer-reviewed publication for universities across the nation that are similar in composition and mission to FHSU. The journal is available both in print and online at www.fhsu.edu/teacher-scholar. "I realize state comprehensive university is not a term that everyone would recognize, but it describes a tier of higher education that plays an essential role in the well-being of our nation," Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president, said during a news conference this morning to announce the launch of the new journal. "Think of FHSU and you will have a good sense of the nature of a comprehensive state university. SCUs are state-funded universities where teaching is the top priority, where few if any Ph.D. programs are offered, where public access to education is emphasized and where service to a particular region is considered vital." Dr. Larry Gould, FHSU provost, encouraged and supported creation of "Teacher-Scholar," and Dr. Steven Trout, professor of English, serves as editor. Dr. Hong Wang, director of Instructional Design and Course Support in the Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning Technologies, oversaw creation of the online version of the journal, and Joshua Smith, a Wichita graduate student in Graphic Design, created the publication's unique design. "Dr. Gould and Dr. Trout saw a need and stepped forward to meet that need," President Hammond said. "We believe our university should be engaged in the larger academic community, and it would be difficult to imagine a more meaningful place for engagement than with state comprehensive universities, which for too long have been the invisible workhorses of higher education." Pointing to recent scholarship that criticizes higher education, Gould said it was clear the U.S. higher-education system was faced with daunting challenges and an array of new opportunities generated by global and economic changes, the quest for planetary survival, technological evolution, and the need to educate citizens for American democracy. "Unless higher-education institutions are willing to address the gap between historical deficiencies and current demands for more access, affordability, assessment and accountability, they face further scrutiny and criticism," Gould said. "There is a definite need to provide a 'forum' for exploring the role and potential influence of SCUs as key players in a world where education addresses an ever-growing array of societal challenges. 'Teacher-Scholar: The Journal of the State Comprehensive University' is intended to meet that need." Although the American Association of State Colleges and Universities does a great job in Washington representing the 430 institutions that can be defined as SCUs, Gould said the time had come to give SCUs a public intellectual voice that both addresses higher education's current challenges and helps to shape the "college of 2020." "The arrival of 'Teacher-Scholar' fills a breach in the literature on higher education institutions that has been left void far too long," he said. As editor, Trout explained that the new journal would explore the history, present circumstances and possible future of America's hardest working but least studied institutions of higher learning. "SCUs are typically seen as less prestigious, but they play a vital role in the American academy, providing relatively low-cost instruction to millions of students and employing a sizable percentage of young Ph.D.s, most of whom leave their doctoral programs without any conception of what it will be like to work at institutions where faculty members are teachers and scholars, in that order," he said. Trout said the new journal would delve into many questions: What are the benefits of working at an SCU? What kinds of challenges do the faculty and the administration face? How is the education provided by SCUs different from that offered by large research schools or private liberal arts colleges? How do students fare once they graduate from universities that supposedly lack prestige? How can technology best be utilized for teaching and learning at such schools? What is campus culture like at an SCU? What is the real role of research and scholarship at these institutions? What do interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching mean at an SCU? How does internationalization occur on these campuses? And, most crucial, what role and responsibilities does the SCU have in the reform of a world-respected system of higher education that is reshaping itself to deliver education in ways never before thought possible? "These questions and more will be addressed in the pages of 'Teacher-Scholar,'" Trout said. He also said the new journal also would provide the spark for a more intense examination of the role of SCUs right on the FHSU campus. Trout said faculty would meet in a forum on Thursday, Nov. 5, in the Trails Room of the FHSU Memorial Union to share their reactions to issues raised in the journal. "I feel very proud to work on the 'Teacher-Scholar' journal with Dr. Steven Trout, the CTELT staff and my student worker, Tony Hu," Wang said. "Some special features of the online journal include the podcasts created to introduce the authors and their articles, a mouse-over function to display the references in the article, a floating window to show the headings and their hyperlinks within each article, and a capacity to submit the manuscript to the editor directly online through the 'Contact' link." "Teacher-Scholar: The Journal of the State Comprehensive University" will be published annually both online and in hard copy and will be fully peer-reviewed. Peer review, which is also known as refereeing, is the process of subjecting articles to the scrutiny of experts in the same academic discipline. The process helps to ensure that research and writing meet accepted standards of the discipline. The inaugural issue of "Teacher-Scholar" features a "Preface" by Provost Gould and the following articles: • "Introduction: The Work of the People’s University" by Bruce Henderson, Western Carolina University 
 • "Created in their Image: Academic Careers Molded (Mangled?) by State Comprehensive Universities" by Julia M. Gergits, Youngstown State University 
 • "A Context for Extramural Funding at State Comprehensive Universities: Tilting at Windmills or Fighting the Good Fight?" by John Falconer, University of Nebraska-Kearney 
 • "Building Bridges: What State Comprehensive Universities and Research Institutions Could Learn From One Another" by Donald E. Hall, West Virginia University The editors invite contributions to the new journal from anyone interested in the influence and place of SCUs in the rethinking and revitalization of the American higher education system.Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4030http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4029The Kansas Academy of Math and Science (KAMS) will hold a preview day at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 on the Fort Hays State University campus. The preview will address the academic program, admissions requirements, student development opportunities and a tour of the FHSU lab facilities and campus. "This is an excellent opportunity for prospective students and parents to come and get a great feel for the university," said Dr. Angela Bolte, marketing and admissions coordinator for KAMS. Prospective students will have the opportunity to tour all of FHSU's basic lab facilities and listen to presentations by instructors in the Department of Geosciences and the Department of Mathematics. Time has been allotted to visit with KAMS faculty, staff and first-year KAMS students. KAMS expects 40 Kansas high school juniors and seniors to enroll in its second class in fall 2010. These students will receive hands-on research experience supervised by Ph.D. scientists, 68 hours of college credit and co-curricular and extra-curricular development opportunities in a safe residential environment. "The first class is doing extremely well," Bolte said. "The students are adjusting very easily and are very excited about their classes." Prospective students must have completed two years of high school or the equivalent with distinction in mathematics and science. They must also have a 23 composite score on the ACT or a 1060 score on the SAT. "We are looking forward to the second class to better the academy and create a foundation for future years," said Bolte. Seating for the preview is limited and registration is required by Monday, Nov. 9. Visit the KAMS Web site to register at http://fhsu.edu/kams or contact KAMS at (785) 628-4690 or email kams@fhsu.edu.Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4029http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4023As the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association fall season rolls along, two Monte Vista, Colo., natives have proved to be integral members of the Fort Hays State University Rodeo Team. In fact, these two have combined to earn all the points for the FHSU men’s team, which currently sits 11th in the NIRA Central Plains Region standings. Freshman Blair Jones and senior Cody Pratt, roommates and traveling partners, compete in both the team roping and the steer wrestling. Although they have yet to make the short round in the team roping, steer wrestling proves to be a different story. At the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Rodeo in Coleman, Jones had a run of 4.8 seconds in the steer wrestling, putting him in sixth going into the short-go. Not only did Jones have the fastest time of the short-go with a 3.5, but the two times together also won him the average. Jones was glad to have the weekend fall together so well. “I felt like everything really came together this weekend. I had my head on straight, everything started clicking right and it ended up in my favor,” Jones said. After winning the Southeastern Oklahoma rodeo, Jones now leads the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Central Plains Region in the steer wrestling with 175 points. He kept it simple when describing what it feels like to lead an entire region as a freshman. “It feels good,” he said. Nevertheless, Jones knows that it will take a lot of work to stay up there until the end of the 2009-2010 rodeo season. “There are a lot more rodeos to go, and I’ll have to keep going at it and doing my best.” At the season’s previous rodeo at Pratt Community College, Jones also made the short-go in the steer wrestling, along with Pratt. Jones nearly won the long round with a 4.6 but came up short by one tenth of a second. Pratt was a 5.1 in the long-go, putting him in seventh going into the finals. In the short round, Jones had a run of 5.8 while Pratt improved his time with a 4.5. Jones ended up seventh in the average. Pratt finished fifth. “I would have liked to have placed better, but I was happy with how it turned out,” Pratt said. Jones was glad to place at his second college rodeo; however, he knew that he was capable of more -- as he proved in Coleman. “I feel like I did good at Pratt,” Jones said. “I could have done better, but as a freshman, I feel like I have started my year off alright. I could have gotten a better start in the short round. That’s the only thing that hurt me.” The two bulldogging powerhouses didn’t just meet this year. They say they’ve known each other forever. “We used to kick it together when we were in diapers,” Pratt said with a grin. Jones and Pratt really became good friends when they started roping together. Pratt, Jones says, is really the one who got him started in rodeo. “I knew he wanted to rope and be a cowboy, and I was fortunate enough to grow up around it, so I figured he should get the same opportunity,” Pratt said. Jones knew from the start that Pratt was the kind of guy from whom he wanted to learn. “Cody is one of those guys that has a very good head on his shoulders and has done a lot with his life already,” Jones said. “By doing that, he shows me the right path to go down. He has been a really good influence on me. He has done a lot for me and has helped me out a lot with stuff in life -- not just in the arena but outside, too.” Pratt thinks just as highly of Jones. “He is a great kid. He has a lot of ability and things going for him. I love him like a brother and would do anything for him,” Pratt said. Jones and Pratt and the rest of the FHSU Rodeo Team will compete next in Alva, Okla., at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rodeo, Nov. 5-7. The current standings and rodeo results can be found on the NIRA Web site, www.collegerodeo.com. For more information on the FHSU Rodeo Team, visit the Web site at www.fhsu.edu/rodeo.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4023http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4024Hugh Merrill, professor of art at the Kansas City Art Institute and community art director for the Chameleon Art and Youth Development Center in Kansas City, Mo., is visiting Fort Hays State University on Nov. 12-13 to lead a discussion about community needs, creative projects and art in Hays. Merrill has worked in Kansas City and abroad to implement community art projects including directing an art workshop with a children's homeless shelter in Kansas City. Amy Schmierbach, associate professor of art and design at FHSU, will host the discussion with Merrill to brainstorm potential community art projects in Hays. All interested individuals are invited to attend. "The goal of the creative workshop is to create many interesting ideas for projects but also to unite people who believe that the arts can bring people together to create a community," said Schmierbach. Merrill will talk about his artwork and community projects at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Stouffer Lounge in the Memorial Union. His works have been exhibited internationally. He will also talk about his work at the Chameleon Art and Youth Development Center in Kansas City. At 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13 in the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art, Merrill will lead a discussion with FHSU art students, staff and faculty members and community members about possible community art projects that can be implemented in Hays. For more information on Merrill's creative workshop contact Schmierbach at (785) 628-4272 or email aschmier@fhsu.edu. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4024http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4025From violins and cellos to street rhymes and sing-a-longs, the String-a-Palooza musical fair and extravaganza will provide various forms of entertainment for children in the Memorial Union on the Fort Hays State University campus. Presented by the Western Kansas String Academy and FHSU's Alpha Pi chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, String-a-Palooza will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14. Events will begin at 9:30 a.m. Among the performers, Maria Anthony, Lawrence, will host two children's concerts. Anthony uses guitar, flute and bodhran, an Irish frame drum, for accompaniment in her performances, which include stories, sing-a-longs, humor and poetry. She uses costume, rhythm and rhyme. Programs include translation of the Gaelic language, songs about children by children, otherwise known at "street rhymes," and movement activities. Anthony will have two half-hour concerts in the union. Her first concert will begin at 9:30 a.m. This concert will concentrate on pre-school-aged children while her second, at 11:30 a.m., will be for children of all ages. Anthony has been performing since 1982 and has produced four recordings of traditional and original music with violinist and singer Megan Hurt as well as the folk-rock band "Uncle Dirty Toes." Anthony is a songwriter as well as a creative interpreter of traditional music. She performs at Celtic and Scottish festivals throughout the region. There will be hands-on booths and exploration activities for children from 10 to 11 a.m. Exploration centers available will include "Instrument Petting Zoo," a "Drumming Circle," "Make your own RainStick," a pre-school song circle, "Exotic String Instruments" and an electric instrument experiment station. For children in kindergarten or older, violin and cello lessons will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Children in the second grade or above can participate in guitar lessons as well. For these half-hour sessions, instruments will be provided to introduce children to the art of playing a musical instrument. For those interested in participating in the lessons, contact the String Academy by Thursday, Nov. 12 to reserve a seat. At 11 a.m., a musically-illustrated reading of Pete Seeger's story "Abiyoyo!" will be performed by the String Academy intermediate and advanced orchestra. The orchestra will play music written by FHSU music student Krista Connelly, Hays junior, while Dr. Doug Drabkin, associate professor of philosophy, narrates. Registration will be in the Sunset Lounge in the Memorial Union at 9:15 a.m. on the day of the event. However, visitors are welcome to come and go to the morning's events as their schedules allow. For more information, contact Cathy Drabkin, executive director of the Western Kansas String Academy, at (785) 628-5363 or at cadrabkin@fhsu.edu.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4025http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4026In defiance of their characterization by the national media as an "invisible minority," Fort Hays State University students will gather at Forsyth Library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, to hear a panel of health industry insiders talk about reform. Presented by Forsyth Library, FHSU's Learning Commons and the American Democracy Project, the event will also feature an interactive exhibition of gaming and information stations and an informal reception that will provide an opportunity for open discussion. Door prizes and refreshments will be provided. Healthcare: Get in the Game was conceived as a chance for students to get real information, rather than rhetoric and partisan "politics as usual" and as an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed legislation and the process in a rational environment. The panel for features speakers from three different perspectives on this complex issue: Dona Koenigsman, director of the FHSU Student Health Center, joined the staff at the beginning of this academic year. She had been director of Hays Planned Parenthood and clinic manager at the Renal Care Center. Koenigsman graduated from FHSU in 1995 with a degree in nursing. Sunee Mickle, director of Government Relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, coordinates the company's activities with elected officials and regulatory agencies, oversees lobbying efforts and the maintenance of member contracts. Mickle previously worked as a senior policy analyst in the public health unit at the Kansas Health Institute, where she researched and analyzed legal and health policy issues in such public health areas as childhood immunizations, public health systems and patient information privacy. Before joining KHI, Mickle worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nine years. Dr. Marilyn Ray, a board certified radiologist and a fellow at FHSU's Docking Institute of Public Affairs, practices radiology in northwest Kansas and eastern Colorado. She obtained her M.D. from Tufts University in Boston and took her radiology training at Harvard's Beth Israel Hospital, also in Boston. She received a master's in public health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md., in May 2004. Her main interest in public health is strategic health communication, with the goal of improving the community norms of health behaviors, both here and abroad. For more information about this event or to arrange an interview with one of the organizers, please contact Tania Alekson at (785) 365-6056 or tlalekson@fhsu.edu.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4026http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4027The Fort Hays State University Foundation recently named two new alumni to its Board of Trustees, Dr. Gary Fredrickson, Oberlin, and Kent Needham, Tonganoxie. The FHSU Foundation raises and invests all funds on behalf of the university and recently launched a three-year $60 million fundraising effort for FHSU called the Cornerstone Campaign. "We are thrilled to have Gary and Kent join our team as a member of the Board of Trustees," said Tim Chapman, president and CEO of the Foundation. "The mission of the Foundation is more important than ever as state funding continues to decline. These individuals' enthusiasm for FHSU will help us in many ways throughout the state and region as we strive to meet our goal of raising $60 million in the Cornerstone Campaign." Fredrickson is a dentist and the owner of Family Dentistry in Oberlin and the Smith Center Dental Clinic in Smith Center. Needham is the president and CEO of First Security Bank in Overbrook. Fredrickson graduated from FHSU in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in general science before attending dental school. He opened his practice in Oberlin in 1982 and took over the Smith Center practice last year on a part-time basis from a retiring dentist. Needham graduated from FHSU in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and earned a master's in business administration from Wichita State University in 1976. He served as chairman of the Kansas Banker's Association from 2004-2005 and currently serves on the Administrative Committee of America's Community Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association in Washington, D.C. The Board of Trustees helps govern the policies, procedures and investment strategies of the Foundation. The FHSU Foundation is an independent, non-profit corporation designated by the state of Kansas to receive gifts on behalf of Fort Hays State University. The corporation qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, visit www.fhsu.edu/foundation.Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4027http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4028Two faculty members at Fort Hays State University recently published an article in Academic Leadership: The Online Journal. Dr. Shala Mills, chair of the Department of Political Science, and Dr. Bryan Bennett, an assistant professor in the department, wrote "y cant they rite?: Integrating Writing Assessment Across the Undergraduate Political Science Major." The article explores common issues affecting undergraduate writing, offers suggestions for strategies designed to improve overall writing effectiveness and provides examples of steps taken by FHSU's Department of Political Science to improve student writing. Mills also published "How to Succeed in the Academy: A Chair's Advice to Junior Faculty" in the fall issue of The Department Chair: A Resource for Academic Administrators. "Quality teaching, scholarship and/or service will not ensure success if good work in those areas is combined with failure to follow institutional policies, efforts to undermine institution missions, or engagement in malignant interpersonal interactions," Mills said. "This article offers advice to young faculty to help them succeed."Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4028http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4021Dr. Paul Adams, professor of physics and Anschutz Professor of Education, was the featured speaker at the Fort Hays State University Honors Convocation on Oct. 22, where he was awarded as a President's Distinguished Scholar. In a lively presentation called "Reflections and Refractions of a Science Nomad," Adams told the story of his work in science teaching and student learning. He conducted science demonstrations using items such as a basketball, bottles of water and a fire extinguisher to illustrate key speaking points of his research-based ideas. Adams is a graduate of Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Science in physics and math. He received his teaching certification and a Master of Science in physics from Washington State University, Pullman, and a Ph.D. in science education from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. He joined the FHSU faculty in 1996 as an instructor of physics and was promoted to the academic rank of professor in 2003. He now holds the endowed position of Anschutz Professor of Education. Well known for his dedication to science education and his extensive grant writing skills, Adams' efforts over the years have added substantial resources to the accomplishments of FHSU. One of his most successful entrepreneurial achievements is his introduction of the Kansas Academy of Math and Science, or KAMS. KAMS is a premiere early-entry-to-college program that incorporates a unique residential learning experience for exceptional high school juniors and seniors. The Kansas Board of Regents selected FHSU to host the academy in partnership with the Kansas Legislature and other key stakeholders. Adams serves as the founding director of the FHSU Science and Mathematics Education Institute in the College of Education and Technology. The institute sponsors LEGO robotics competitions, FHSU girls' science and math camps, space week, Earth Day and various teacher workshops. Adams has served on numerous departmental and university committees, and his record in research and faculty institutional leadership provided a solid foundation for his reception of the Faculty Member of the Year Award in 1998 and 2005. Adams has been a facilitator of two satellite missions and three NASA workshops. He has worked with teachers from the French Space Agency and teachers in Mexico. During the convocation, President Edward H. Hammond also recognized various students and faculty who had received academic honors.Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4021http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4022After years on the job away from his home state of Kansas, Steve Gonzalez has come back to Fort Hays State University as the University Bookstore manager. Gonzalez, who grew up in Garden City, came to FHSU in 1974 to pursue an elementary education degree. After graduating in 1979, he worked in the community for a while before he saw an advertisement for the position of FHSU Bookstore manager. “I applied for that position, and it happened to be for Follett out of Chicago. I went out to Chicago, got interviewed and got the position,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez remained at FHSU for 14 years until the lease between Follett and FHSU expired and Barnes and Noble won the bid. “I had already put in 14 years with the company, and I felt it was a good company, so my loyalty was to stay with the company. I didn’t apply for Barnes or talk to Barnes about it,” Gonzalez said. Instead, he asked Follett what they could do for him. Follett offered him the choice of jobs in either Texas or Virginia, and Gonzalez chose the East Coast job. But the bigger school took some time to get used to. “Virginia was a bigger store just in size alone and then in population of students. I think at the time, Fort Hays might have been six or seven thousand students, and I was going to a university with 20,000 students,” Gonzalez said. Still, having grown up and lived in Kansas his entire life, Gonzalez felt it was a great opportunity to go. “I’m glad I went -- I learned a lot,” he said. He managed the Virginia Commonwealth University bookstore in Va., for eight years. Then its contract came up. Gonzalez once more decided to stay with the company that had done so much for him for the past few years. That choice led him to San Antonio, Texas, to oversee five junior colleges. With so many different schools to look after, Gonzalez spent a day a week at each of them. “I missed being in the store for day-to-day operations...You didn’t have that feeling of family. I missed that because I was going to five different locations,” Gonzalez said. Because of this, Gonzalez started looking for another job with Follett. That’s when he saw Fort Hays State was looking to hire. He let himself think about it for a while before deciding to apply. “The more I thought about it, I just started putting little things together. My first and biggest consideration really was family--you always want to go back to Kansas somewhere,” Gonzalez said. After deciding to apply, Gonzalez was offered the job and accepted it, and he says above all things, his favorite thing about working at FHSU is the people on campus. “It’s that kindness--willingness to talk to you. It’s a smaller-knit group of people,” Gonzalez said. “I’m really glad I’m here. It’s a good school. We’re glad to be back.” The University Bookstore is located in the Memorial Union on the FHSU campus. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4022http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4019Dr. Edward H. Hammond, president of Fort Hays State University, will spend the week of Oct. 26 through 30 touring the length and breadth of Kansas to describe the challenges facing higher education and the strategies FHSU has pursued to ensure high academic quality during difficult times. "As representatives of the Kansas Board of Regents described to business leaders during recent visits to several Kansas cities, state financial support for the Kansas higher education system has declined from a high of $853 million in fiscal year 2009 to $753 million in the current year," President Hammond said. "That represents a return to the fiscal year 2006 funding level at a time when Kansans need higher education more than ever." The president said the strategy behind "Forward thinking. World ready." represents the attitude and commitment FHSU has made to overcome the state's financial struggles during the national economic downturn. "In the last 10 months, the higher education budget has been cut by 12 percent and state funding for K-12 has been cut by 4.8 percent," he said. "So, while Kansans are seeking continuing education in order to become more competitive in the tight job market, all six state universities are having to do more with less." President Hammond pointed out that the financial challenges actually go back further than last October's economic collapse. "Since 1988, state funding per student at Kansas Regents universities has declined by 20 percent while enrollment has increased by 13 percent. As a result, tuition costs have increased, and this has been true not only in Kansas but nationally," he said. "In 1988, state funding covered 47 percent of the cost of an education at Regents universities and students paid 16 percent. Those lines are now about to cross, with the state paying 27 percent and students paying 26 percent." This trend in reduced state funding, if it continues, threatens the possibility that many Kansans may no longer have access to higher education. "We are not content to sit back at FHSU and wait for things to improve," the president said, "and we know Kansans expect no less. Our Docking Institute of Public Affairs conducted an inaugural 'Kansas Speaks' survey this summer that showed, among other things, that 43 percent of Kansans favor increased funding for higher education and 91 percent say the funding should at least be maintained at its current level." By adapting a forward-thinking strategy, FHSU has been able to keep the cost of education affordable. "We have generated new revenue through growth, we have implemented efficiencies to reduce operational costs and we have made some cuts in our operational budget," President Hammond said. FHSU's growth has been extraordinary. "From 5,506 students on the 20th day of the fall 2000 semester, we reported 11,308 students on the 20th day this semester," the president said. "Our enrollment has more than doubled since the turn of the century." Collectively, the six Regents universities had an increase of 1,435 students from last fall semester. Of that total, 1,201 of the new students -- representing 83 percent of the Regents-system growth -- were at FHSU. Faced with a budget in the current fiscal year that was reduced by 14 percent from the previous year, FHSU moved to a four-day summer workweek and raised thermostat settings. University employees worked 10-hour days Mondays through Thursdays, and the university converted all but about 30 essential on-campus classes into Virtual College classes during the summer. The result was a savings of more than 25 percent in air conditioning bills. The university had implemented other efficiencies immediately after the financial collapse in October. Those included a savings of about $1 million a year by developing Virtual College classes in-house, more than $300,000 through academic reorganization and $875,000 by developing its own student record system. Even with the growth and efficiencies, budget cuts of about 6 percent were necessary. "We had calculated that a funding reduction of this magnitude would require the elimination of 54 employees," President Hammond said. "Instead, about 30 positions were impacted," "As a result of our strategy of growth, efficiencies and budget cuts, we are the only four-year institution in the region that was able to keep tuition for in-state, undergraduate students under $100 an hour," he said. Notable examples of the university's "forward thinking" approach include: • The FHSU Virtual College combines the university's forward thinking with its commitment to global engagement. One of President Hammond's first initiatives when he arrived at FHSU in 1987 was to "electrify" the campus. The resulting technological edge in computing and telecommunications positioned FHSU to become the state leader in distance education, which meets the need for lifetime learning that has become the new model for higher education. FHSU has a fall 2009 enrollment of 6,965 in its Virtual College. • The university launched a capital campaign in the midst of the economic downturn. "We announced the $60-million Cornerstone Campaign in September," the president said. "We believe the timing could not be better because nothing is more vital to an economic turnaround than higher education, which provides the trained workers to drive innovation and create new enterprises. We have already brought in $36.6 million in contributions and pledges." • In partnership with Virginia Tech and several other universities, FHSU is constructing two Super Dual Auroral Radar Network antennas that will study the impact of the changing solar winds on Earth's near-space environment. "This is a project with worldwide implications," President Hammond said. "SuperDARN will help us understand the phenomenon that leads to both the beautiful northern lights and harmful effects such as interference with communications and electric grids." Examples of the university's "world ready" approach include: * China is the major new player in the world economy. Of its $1.9 trillion in overseas investments, $1.4 trillion is in the United States. It has enjoyed unprecedented economic growth, with its gross domestic product increasing from $150 billion in 1980 to $1.8 trillion last year. Through its Virtual College, FHSU has 3,211 students at partner universities in China this fall, where FHSU continues to be the leading provider of undergraduate education that is not a Chinese university. * FHSU continues to pursue other international relationships. Most recently, it entered a partnership with St. John International University, located in Vinovo, Italy. This fall, FHSU has nearly 300 students from at least two dozen nations studying on the Hays campus. "Engaging in the world does not necessarily mean leaving the country but having the capability to understand and compete in the global economy, especially as the United States enters a new era of sharing economic dominance," the president said. * The Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science began its first year this fall. Established by the Kansas Legislature in 2006, KAMS is a premier early-entry-to-college program that provides exceptional high school juniors and seniors from across the state with a potent blend of college-level instruction by Ph.D. faculty, a high school diploma and 68 hours of college credit. The students live and learn on the campus of FHSU. "The Chinese word for 'crisis' combines two characters that are roughly translated as 'danger' and 'opportunity,' and I think that describes the current situation in Kansas higher education," the president said. "We are at a crossroads. We've seen what has happened in Colorado, where the higher education system is basically bankrupt. About a tenth of our freshman class came from Colorado this fall because parents understand their sons and daughters can get a high quality education at FHSU at an affordable price. Kansans also understand the importance of higher education. That is why more than 40 percent favor increased state funding of higher education and more than 90 percent believe it should at least be maintained at its current level." Following a news conference this morning on the Hays campus, President Hammond will visit at newspapers, radio and television stations, and with community leaders, alumni and friends of the university in 14 other Kansas cities. He will also visit McCook, Neb., where FHSU recently entered a partnership with Mid-Plains Community College.Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4019http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4020Fourteen students from Fort Hays State University will begin going door to door in Ellis on Monday, Nov. 2, distributing surveys on public attitudes toward local law enforcement, as well as residents preparedness in case of emergency situations. The "City of Ellis Law Enforcement Needs Assessment Survey" is a project of the sociology program of the university's Department of Sociology and Social Work. Dr. Kate McGonigal, assistant professor of sociology, is conducting the survey. She said a main focus is public attitudes in the City of Ellis toward law enforcement. The survey is partially sponsored by the Ellis Police Department, which is picking up printing costs, but neither police nor their families will be involved in the survey, nor will they be selected to receive the survey itself."Once completed the surveys will be in my hands or in a locked file cabinet," McGonigal said, emphasizing that the survey does not ask for and does not want names and that confidentiality will be protected at every step. "The survey is totally confidential."The dates of survey distribution within the City of Ellis will be Nov. 2 to Nov. 9. Once the surveys are completed, residents are asked to place them in the sealable, pre-paid postage envelopes and place those in the mail. Envelopes are addressed to Dr. McGonigal at her FHSU address. All completed surveys should have a postmark of no later than Nov. 22 in order to be accepted. The survey packet contains the survey, a cover letter with instructions, and a postage-paid envelope to mail the survey back to McGonigal. Only surveys mailed back in the enclosed envelope will be collected, in order to ensure confidentiality. Most of the questions will be multiple choice with several open-ended questions. Once results have been read and tabulated, she said, the survey forms will be shredded.People do not need to be home to get surveys. The packets, in bags donated by Dillon Stores, will be left hanging from doorknobs where residents are not at home when a student team comes by. "The primary aim is to assess citizen attitudes in Ellis toward law enforcement, plus a few questions about household emergency preparedness," she said.The 14 students who will be distributing the survey come from two classes at FHSU, a sociology class taught by McGonigal and students from a Leadership Studies class taught by Christie Brungardt, instructor of leadership studies. The students will have official FHSU identification with them anytime they are in Ellis distributing the survey.Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4020http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4013Five Fort Hays State University English majors recently headed south to Oxford, Miss., where they gained biographical and historical insights on Nobel laureate William Faulkner and the Southern culture reflected in his literary works. Students who traveled to Oxford were Traci Bamber, Hill City, junior; M. Dominick Biondo, Kansas City, Mo., senior; Justin Brown, Pratt, graduate student; Paige Kincade, Idaho Springs, Colo., junior; and Olga Renner, University of Duisburg-Essen, Recklinghausen, Germany, graduate student. Faculty members Brenda Craven, instructor of English, and Dr. Bradley Will, associate professor of English, accompanied the group. The first stop for students was Faulkner's home, Rowan Oak, where curator William Griffith led a tour of the antebellum house. Students were allowed to view the kitchen which was Faulkner's favorite writing room, which is usually closed to the public. "If we had only seen Rowan Oak, the 13-hour drive would have been worth it," said Biondo. "Faulkner was a very private man. To see where he wrote showed more about his writing than the stories alone." "We just read 'Absalom, Absalom!' for class," he said. "At one point in the book, someone asks the protagonist, 'Why would anyone live in the South?' Actually being there gave us a better sense of the ruggedness of the land the main character loves." "It provided a true sense of the world in which Faulkner lived and the Southern culture which he is a part of," said Craven. Students visited the University of Mississippi, where they met with Southern literature professor and Fulbright scholar Dr. Catherine McKee, who discussed Faulkner's role as a Southern writer. They also met with Dr. Ted Ownby, director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, who explained the center's mission as well as historical aspects of Southern literature and culture. The group visited historic Oxford neighborhoods including the Courthouse Square and St. Peter's Cemetery, burial site of Faulkner. In addition, the group explored Southern music as well as literature, with a visit to Greg Johnson, director of the blues archives, who introduced students to the region's distinctive musical traditions, discussing blues' origins and playing excerpts from important blues works. The Oxford tour concluded with Dr. Jennifer Ford, director of the Faulkner Archives, describing the various holdings in the archives and showing students numerous Faulkner artifacts, papers and manuscripts, which are normally unavailable to the public. "We saw an interesting variety of artifacts at the archives," said Biondo. "To see Faulkner's revision process, in his tiny angular handwriting, really helped shed light on his writing process."Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4013http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4014Fort Hays State University has added several more new full-time faculty for the 2009-2010 academic year. Wesley R. Armstrong accepted a position as the McMindes Hall director and first-year- experience coordinator. He received a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Ind., in 2006 and a Master of Arts in student affairs and higher education from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, in 2008. Armstrong began his position Aug. 2. Patricia Blanton accepted a position as an instructor of leadership studies for the Virtual College International. She received a Bachelor of Art in education from the University of Illinois, Chicago, in 1977 and a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from North Carolina A.&T. State University, Greensboro, in 1993. She is a doctoral candidate in organizational management and leadership from The University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz., Blanton began her position Aug. 17. Dr. Claudio Carpano accepted a position in the College of Business and Leadership as a visiting professor of management and marketing. He received a master's degree in business administration from Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, in 1983. He received a doctorate of pedagogy from the University of Rome, Italy, in 1979 and a Ph.D. in philosophy in business administration from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, in 1991. Carpano began his position Aug. 17. Karen Du Bois accepted a position as the management and marketing course coordinator for the Virtual College International. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in education from Eastern Nazarene College, Wollaston, Mass., in 1974 and a master's degree in business administration from Suffolk University Boston, Mass., in 1985. Du Bois began her position Aug. 17. Brian G. Faust accepted a position as the director of student residential life. He received a Bachelor of Arts in geography and a minor in political science in 1991, from the University of Wisconsin, Platterville, and a Master of Science in counselor education in 1996, from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Faust began his position July 26. Matthew Habiger accepted a position in the College of Business and Leadership as a instructor of economics, finance and accounting. He received a bachelor's degree in mathematical economics from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., in 2006 and a master's degree in economics from the University of Kansas in 2009. Habiger began his position Aug. 17. Stephen Chandler Herrington accepted a position as a management and marketing course coordinator for the Virtual College International. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgia State University, Atlanta, a Master of Arts from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo., a master's degree in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, Ariz., and he is a doctoral candidate in business administration from Northcentral University, Prescott, Arizona. Herrigton began his position Aug. 17. Conner Jostes accepted a position as an assistant football coach. He received a Bachelor of Science in education from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, in 2006 and a master's degree in administration of sports from FHSU in 2009. Jostes began his position June 25. Jesse W. Kapellusch accepted a position as an assistant compliance and student services coordinator for the Athletics Department. He received a Bachelor of Science in human services, from Lynn University, Boca Raton, Fla., in 2001. Kappellusch began his position Aug. 3. Dona J. Koenigsman accepted a position as the director of student health. She received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from FHSU in 1994. Koenigsman began her position Aug. 31. Jon Lavieri accepted a position as an instructor of English for the Virtual College International. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing from Roger Williams University, Bristol, R.I., and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Lavieri will begin his position Feb. 15, 2010. Joseph Lennon accepted a position as an instructor of English for the Virtual College International. He received a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy from the University of Georgia, Athens, in 2002 and a Master of Fine Arts in writing from Washington University, St. Louis, in 2006. Lennon began his position Aug. 17. Jorge H. Mata accepted a ull-time position as an instructor of English for the Virtual College International. He received a Bachelor of Science in advertising from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1980, a master's degree in business administration in international trade from Texas A&M International University, College Station, in 1989 and an honorary doctorate from the London College for Higher Education, England, in 2009. Mata began his position Aug. 17. Joseph Matar accepted a position as an instructor of English for the Virtual College International. He received a Bachelor of Arts in film studies and production from Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y., in 2005 and a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Leeds, England, in 2008. Matar will begin his position Feb. 15. Maxim Maximov accepted a position in the College of Arts and Sciences as an instructor of modern languages. He received a Bachelor of Arts in German and Spanish from FHSU in 1999 and a Master of Arts in German language and literature from the University of Kansas in 2001. Maximov began his position Aug. 17. Charlene Nichols accepted a position as the interim assistant alumni director for the FHSU Alumni Association. She received her Bachelor of Science in journalism and mass communications from Kansas State University, Manhattan. Nichols began her position Aug. 17. Allyson Karene Plattner accepted a position as director of Wiest and Agnew halls, conference coordinator and Residence Hall Association Advisor. She received a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership and a Bachelor of Science in communication studies from FHSU, both in 2008. Plattner began her position Aug. 9. Jennifer Rajewski accepted a position as an instructor of communication studies. She received a Bachelor of Arts in dance choreography in 1997, a Bachelor of Science in technical theatre in 1997, and a Master of Arts in stage management in 1999, all from KSU. She received a Master of Fine Arts in stage management and theatre history from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 2002 and she is a doctoral candidate in dramaturgy at the University of California, Berkley. Rajewski began her position Aug. 17. Sergio J. Ramirez accepted a position in the Department of Admissions as an admissions counselor. He received a Bachelor of Arts in art education from FHSU in 2009 and he is working toward a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education from FHSU. Ramirez began his position Aug. 23. Kimberly L. Rhoton accepted a position as a management and marketing course coordinator for the Virtual College International. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in management from Davenport University, Dearborn, Mich., in 2003 and a Master of International Business from the University of Saint Thomas, Houston, Texas, in 2007. Rhoton will begin her position Jan. 13. Barbara Ricketts accepted a position as a management and marketing course coordinator for the Virtual College International. She received a Bachelor of Science in psychology in 2001 and a master's degree in international business administration in 2005, both from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Ricketts began her position Aug. 17. Deborah K. Rodda accepted a position in the Department of Health and Human Performance as an instructor of health and human performance and an assistant athletic trainer. She received a Bachelor of Science in sport and exercise science and physical education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in 1990 and a Master of Science in exercise and wellness from Arizona State University, Tempe, in 1993. Rodda will begin her position Aug. 17. Dr. Eric J. Romero accepted a position as a visiting professor of management and marketing for the Virtual College International. He received a Bachelor of Science in management in 1991 and a Master of Science in accounting in 1994, both from Binghamton State University of New York. He received a Ph.D. in management from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, in 2001. Romero began his position Aug. 17. Marilyn Diane Schultz accepted a position as a management and marketing course coordinator for the Virtual College International. She received a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and psychology from Michigan State University, East Lansing, and a Juris Doctorate from St. Louis, Mo., University School of Law. Schultz began her position Aug. 17. Matthew G. Thomas accepted a position in the Kansas Academy of Math and Science as a residence counselor. He received a Bachelor of Arts in English and textual studies from Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y., in 2004. Thomas began his position Aug. 1. Kathryn J. Wallert accepted a position in the Department of Arts and Sciences as an instructor of psychology. She received a Bachelor of Science in psychology from FHSU in 2005 and a Master of Science in clinical psychology from FHSU in 2009. Wallert began her position Aug. 17. Abbie K. Wedel accepted a position as a full-time teacher in the Tiger Tots Nursery Center. She received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from FHSU in 2009. Wedel began her position Aug. 17. Amanda William accepted a position as an instructor of psychology. She received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from FHSU in 2002 and a Master of Science from FHSU in 2004. William began her position Aug. 17. Hope Wilson accepted a position as a management and marketing course coordinator for the Virtual College International. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, and a master's degree in communications from the University of Denver. Wilson began her position Aug. 17. Siyaun "Grace" Zhou accepted a position in the Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning Technologies as an integrated learning technologies specialist. She received her Bachelor of General Studies in business management from FHSU in 2005 and a Master of Science in instructional technology from FHSU in 2009. Zhou began her position Aug. 10.Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4014http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4015As high school students prep their calculators, study their formulas, and sharpen their pencils, Fort Hays State University's Mathematics and Computer Science Department makes preparations for the 31st annual Math Relays. On Nov. 12, around 500 students from about 50 schools will begin the relays in the Fort Hays Ballroom and Black and Gold Room in the Memorial Union. The students will be tested in six areas of math: trigonometry, algebra, geometry, applications, number sense and using a calculator. "The kids have the option to either take the tests as an individual or as a team, which is kind of like a relay track team," said Bill Weber, instructor of mathematics and computer science. "One student starts the test and then the other team members come in to finish." Once the students complete their tests, they wait for their awards. Individual and team awards will be presented separately. "We see which school has the highest number of points," said Weber. "All tests are done on Scantrons, so we have results later in the day." For more information, contact Weber at bweber@fhsu.edu or at (785) 628-5375.Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4015http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4016Experiencing first hand the responsibilities of being a professional opera singer, Fort Hays State University alumna Emily Cline, Lyons, spent her summer days performing in Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony in Eureka Springs, Ark. Opera in the Ozarks was founded by Dr. Henry Hobart in 1950. It has earned the reputation of being a prominent training program for singers interested in pursuing a career in opera. Every participant is offered an opportunity to perform in fully produced operas. Four weeks of rehearsal and four weeks of performances are under the supervision of a professional staff member. Cline, a 2009 graduate from FHSU with a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in vocal performance, auditioned for the company and was one of 54 selected to join the cast. After a month of intense rehearsals, Cline began participating in nightly shows and served as a member of the wardrobe crew. She appeared in "Albert Herring" by Benjamin Britton as well as an the outreach educational show "Hansel and Gretel" by Humperdinck, which they performed at local churches and special occasions. "I received a scholarship and was required to help in the costume shop doing whatever the costume mistresses needed done," said Cline. "I also helped build and paint the sets for each of the four operas." Although Cline found it difficult to leave her fiancé and family members, she felt the experience will continue to benefit her. "I want to perform opera for a living, and by working on these roles in a young teaching environment, I was able to make mistakes and learn without getting fired," said Cline. "The professional world is not nearly as forgiving compared to when you are a student. I have gained more experience, and I have developed as an actor and a musician." After two months of long practices and nightly performances, Cline returned home, bringing opportunities, memories and valuable lessons with her. "I feel that I gained confidence, I think being away from all of my friends and family made me really rely on myself, and now I know I am ready for the next step in my career, which is grad school," said Cline. "I feel like I've grown in my acting abilities and I'm much more connected to the text that I am singing. It was really great to see where I stood amidst so many talented people of different ages and educational levels." Even after graduation, Cline continues to take voice lessons through FHSU from Dr. Joe Perniciaro, assistant professor of music. "I am really grateful I had this opportunity and that my teacher was so supportive and encouraging," Cline said. "I learned so much and met so many great people that I know will be contacts for life."Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4016http://www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/display_event.php?id=4017Fort Hays State University's chapter of Up 'til Dawn is one of 250 college organizations that help raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital for pediatric cancer patients. Directed by Kelsey Colgazier, Larned senior, the first FHSU chapter of Up 'til Dawn brought in more than $28,000 last year and is out to raise more this year. "Our goal is $38,000," said Colglazier. "It takes $1.4 million a day to run the hospital and 85 cents of every dollar goes directly to the hospital." St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital is located in Memphis, Tenn. It maintains 78 inpatient beds and treats upwards of 260 patients per day. The most common form of cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, had a survival rate of 4 percent when the hospital opened in 1962. Through the research of St. Jude's, today it is up to 94 percent. St. Jude's has helped in every state in the United States and in more than 70 countries through treating patients and sharing research. No one is ever turned down due to their inability to pay. "Every 25 cents counts," said Colglazier. Up 'til Dawn is having an all teams meeting from 7 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Black and Gold Ballroom and the Fort Hays Ballroom of the Memorial Union. Teams are made up of five or six students, and registration is $30 per team, which directly goes to St. Jude's and provides each participant with a T-shirt. The meeting will consist of a letter writing campaign where each team member will personalize 35 pre-written letters to friends and family members asking for donations. There will also be free food, free entertainment, fun games, giveaways and a visit from a patient's family. Up 'til Dawn team registration forms will be accepted until the day of the event along with individual registrations and any donations at the Center for Student Involvement in the basement of the Union. "If you can't make this event, don't worry because we will be having two or three different events still this fall and in spring 2010," said Colglazier. As the director of Up 'til Dawn, Colgazier has been a very dedicated volunteer. She has donated her time in various organizations since her freshman year at FHSU, by helping communities everywhere, serving as an Anderson VIP Student Ambassador, and raising money for charities. "I really enjoy helping others," said Colglazier. "I really want to work for non-profit organizations and contribute to making a difference in the lives of others." Colglazier has also volunteered for Tigers In Service both her freshman and junior years at FHSU and directed it during her sophomore year when she led National Youth Service Day and Make a Difference Day on the FHSU campus. She has also volunteered in communities like Gulfport, Miss., helping with Hurricane Katrina relief, in the fall of 2006; San Diego, Calif., to visit a children's homeless shelter and help with an outreach program, in the spring of 2007; Oklahoma City, Okla., to visit the Lovelink Ministry and help in its food pantry and church, in the fall of 2007; Greensburg, helping with tornado relief, in the spring of 2008; and South Padre Island, Texas, helping with Hurricane Ike relief and building reservations, in the fall of 2009. She also helps around her hometown in Larned by being an active community member and donating time to her church. As a result of Colglazier's dedication to FHSU and community volunteering, she was awarded the Fred A. Miller Award in 2008, presented for outstanding service to FHSU and the VIP Ambassadors. "I was really surprised and excited to accept the award. I felt very humbled," she said. For more information on Tigers In Service or Up 'til Dawn, contact the Center for Student Involvement at (785) 628-5664.Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CSTsklaus@fhsu.edu (Fort Hays State University)4017